I used a Sea Eagle inflatable kayak in the Carribean and really enjoyed it.
It wasn't too expensive, pretty durable, packable, and tracked OK. This kind
of boat will work fine in moderate seas, gentle rapids and what you
describe.
I used to keep it in the trunk and pump it up in just a few minutes with a
manual pump, a 12V electric pump is real handy though.
http://www.seaeagle.com/menu.html
S.O.A.R. inflatables are much higher quality with price to match.
"Cyli" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 12:22:55 GMT, Richard
wrote:
(various parts snipped)
Bob La Londe wrote:
"Richard" wrote in message
...
I am thinking of getting a small inflatable boat of some kind to ferry
myself across smaller western rivers (e.g. Gunnison in CO) during
spring
high waters when they become too deep to wade across. I just want
something
that would be manageable to cross fairly fast current (not white
water).
What would be the best kind of design for this purpose? Shore lines
can
No, the river access points would be accessible by vehicle.
I've read that float tubes should not be used in moving water. Not sure
about the pontoon type float tubes.
Certainly not round (or U shaped) in fast moving water. Big slow
stream, maybe. But you'd want to be very familiar with the thing and
your abilities first. And have a buddy around when you practice. The
round ones make good drowning machines for the too careless, even in
still water. Pontoon boat should be able to handle relatively fast
water. Not like a canoe or kayak, but pretty well.
Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com
Most urgent would be to get familiar with whatever you chose first,
before trying the fast stream. If you don't know how to paddle a
canoe or kayak, don't even think about it until you learn how. Then
learn your individual boat. First in still water, like a pond or
small lake, then on safe water with a current. There's a _big_
difference with even a relatively slow current. And learn what to do
about being pinned on a rock and how to avoid downed trees.
Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.
http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: lid (strip the .invalid to email)